Bloomipedia
Cucumberleaf sunflower (Helianthus debilis)
Photo: Even Dankowicz via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Cucumberleaf sunflower

Helianthus debilis

Cucumberleaf sunflower (Helianthus debilis) is a flowering plant in the Asteraceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly January–December across the U.S.

Native to Florida

Cucumberleaf sunflower is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Florida it's most often seen in bloom in January–December.

19states where USDA records it
6,922FL sightings*
7,912U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Florida

Quick look

Helianthus debilis is a species of sunflower known by the common names cucumberleaf sunflower, beach sunflower, weak sunflower, East Florida beach sunflower, and East Coast dune sunflower. It is native to the United States, where it can be found along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. It is known elsewhere as an introduced species, such as South Africa, Australia, Taiwan, Slovakia, and Cuba.

  • It belongs to the Asteraceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a annual, perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 19 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Florida. NatureServe
  • In Florida, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in January–December. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as yellow. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as summer. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 0.5 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 6,922 research-grade sightings of it in Florida, ranking #16 among the 151 flowers on our Florida list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Florida, most flowering sightings come in January–December.

Flowering records by month in Florida (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (388 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Florida
Not listed Not on Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Florida. FAC 5B-40.0055
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: WV (SH). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list. For context only: ASPCA lists a related species, Helianthus angustifolius (“Sunflower”), as non-toxic to dogs and cats. That doesn't tell us about this species, so keep pets away to be safe. ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records cucumberleaf sunflower in 19 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia.

Florida counties with USDA records: Bay, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Columbia, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gulf, Hillsborough, Indian River, Jackson, Lake, Lee, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Orange, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Sarasota, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Volusia, Wakulla.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Cucumberleaf sunflower a high shade tolerance, medium drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 5.2 to 7.2 and winter lows down to 22 °F.

Shade tolerance
High
Drought tolerance
Medium
Moisture use
Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse, medium
Soil pH range
5.2 to 7.2
Minimum temperature tolerated
22 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
300
Annual precipitation range
35 to 60 inches
Minimum root depth
14 inches
Salinity tolerance
Medium
Fertility requirement
Medium
Growth rate
Slow
Lifespan
Moderate
Active growth period
Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed
Brown · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by
seed, sprigs
Commercial availability
No Known Source

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for HEDE4. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 130 counties across 16 states; the most are in Texas (47), Florida (27), South Carolina (15).

Other Helianthus on Bloomipedia (5): Sunflowers, Common sunflower, Maximilian sunflower, Narrowleaf sunflower, Prairie sunflower.

More from the Asteraceae family (212 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Common yarrow, Goldenrods, White snakeroot, Chicory, Black-eyed Susan, Bull thistle, Common dandelion, Firewheel.

More Florida flowers

White beggarticks (Bidens alba)

White beggarticks

Bidens alba

Native

🌼 Blooms in FL: January–March
Trailing daisy (Sphagneticola trilobata)

Trailing daisy

Sphagneticola trilobata

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in FL: June–November
Bristle thistle (Cirsium horridulum)

Bristle thistle

Cirsium horridulum

Native

🌼 Blooms in FL: March–April

Sources